Tank-washing machine



Jan. 3l, 1928.

1,657,990 s. F. BLoUlN TANK WASHING MACHINE Filed May 10. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 3l, 1928. 1,657,990

` s. F. BLoulN TANK WASHING MACHINE Filed May 10. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

UNI-TED sra'rss STEPHEN F. BLOUIN, 0F BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, SSIGNOR 0F ONE-TI-IRD TO JOSEPH`M. FABRE ANPI)` ONE-THIRD TO AUGFST 0. MNKS, BOTH 0F BATON ROUGE,

LOUISIANA.

i TANK-WASHMG MAGJEUNE.

i Application filed May 10, 1927. Serial No. 190,259.

kThe present invention relates to improvements in tank washing` machines, and has for an object to` provide a compact, inexpensively constructed and eflicient machine adapted to be inserted in oil tanks, ship tanks, tank cars, storage tanks, oil barges and the like for the `purpose of internally washing the same with water, oil either hot or cold, caus-V tic soda solution, etc.y i e e Another object of the invention is to provide a tank washing machine in which economy in the use of motive power and cleansing' fluid is had byreason of the high efficiency of the machine. j

A further object of the invention lies in providing an improved tank washing` machine in which provision is made for the application of the fluid to all internal parts of the tanks from one position of the rnachine without requiring any movement or adjustment of the machine `in the tank.

"With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or correspondingI part-s throughout `the several views,`

Figure 1 -is a vertical section taken through an improved tank washing machine constructed in accordance with the present invent-ion. Y j.

Figure 2is a cross section taken on the V line 2--2 in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on the linev 3&3 in Figure 1, and n Figure 4c is a horizontal section taken `on the line 1 -4 also in Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 5 designates the power shaft, which may be driven by an air, electric or other motor. This shaft extends down through a stuffing box 6 andthrough a T connectingat one side 8 with a source of cleansing fluid supply, such as water, caustic soda, or the like.

The lower portion of the T isthreaded, or otherwise connected with a non-rotative barrel 9, which extends down and into the rotary drum 10. Where the barrel passes intov the drum a stuffing bor: is provided including the la,:ljnstable gland 11, receiving bon 19., packing material 13, andthe adjustloelte 1d for gland, which may threaded into the upper head 14 of the rotary drum 10.

lThe drum is supported y'for free rotary movement from the'barrel 9 and to this end the barrel carries an annular' ring 15 threadbythe set screws 20, this collar being disposed just above the annular ring 17, which supports the rotary drum 10 upon the barrel ring- 15.

Projecting from diametrically opposite sides of the intermediate portion of the barrel are a pair of branch pipes 21 and 22 conimunicating' internally with the interior of the barrel and preferably extending` through stuffing boxes 23 having` the glands 24E and the adjusting bolts 25. rlhe pipe sections 21 may be rotatable in the stuffing boxes and are flanged, as indicated at 26, at their inner ends to avoid withdrawal outwardly through the stuffing boxes. The outer ends of the pipe sections 21 `carry the fluid spray heads `27 and 28. rlhe spray head 27 is disposed with its axis at substantially right angles to the anis ofthe pipe section 21 by which it is carried.

At opposite ends of the spray head 27 are frusto-conical nipples 29 and 3() carrying the spray nozzles 31 and 32. These spray nozzles are carried removably by the nipples, and spray nozzles of various forms may be provided for directing the fluid in desired directions from the spray heads.

As shown in the drawings the nozzles are of the elbow form. ln case the nozzles are left off, as shown to the left in Figure 1, the cleansing` fluid will issue axially of the spray head 28,' which is provided with the tapering nipples 83 and 34C at its upper and lower ends causing the stream of fluid to converge and issue through a narrow orifice, whereby to develop relatively great force in thestream of cleansing fluid.

ltis also desired in accordance with thev present invention to impart to the spray heads 2T and 28 an oscillating motion about a diametric airis of the drum 10 or about the aires of the pipe sections 21 and 22.- Fer this purpose the lower end of nen-rotative barrel is intended down the stationary bevel gear ivheel atxed as by the setr sereivs o6 to the barrel end.

Bevel pinions 37 and 38 are disposed be neat-h and in mesh with the gear Wheel 35, so that the barrel rotates the pinions 37 and 38, running around beneath the lined gear Wheel 35 Will communicate rotary movement to the pinion shafts 39 and i0 which extend through the stuliing boxes il and 4.2 mounted diametrically in the loiver portion of the rotary drinn l0.

A' spider 43 secured by set screws i4 in the l'oiver portion ot the drum is provided vvithtip-standing; bearin.n and d@ for the inner end portions of l, pinion sb lo and 40 and also this spider 4:3 is provided with a central bearing' et? into which the loive'r end ot the power sha-tt lits and is keyed, the key being` indicated at 4S.

The outer ends ot the pi `on shafts 39 and 40 carry the crank' arms i9 and 50. The crank arm is connected by the links 51 and 52 to the spray head. 27 or to its nipple 30 and the link is guided in the guide 53, shown as supported on the rotary drum 10.

ln like manner the opposite crank arm 4119 is coupled by the links 54 and 55 jointed together as indicated at 56 to the ther spray head 28. The link escillates iu the guide bracket 57 athzsred to the r tary drum 10. The loiver end ot this drum is closed by the removable drum head 58 having` the bloivotforvdrain cock 59 therein.

ln the operation ot the device, the apparatus islet into the tank and poiver applied to the shaft 5. While the cleansing fluid is introduced through the lateral 'l' opening 8. T hetluid descends through the barrel 9? escapes out the' slots 60 therein and into the rotary drum 10. pipe sections 2l and and spray head-'i 27 and 28. The fluid then passes in opposite' directions to the spray Anozzles and is directed by such nozzles against the top7 bottom and Walls ot the tank to be cleaned. The rotary motion of the sha'lt 5 through the Ispider 4:3 communi- Cates the same movement to the drum l() and consequently to the spray heads, which are, therefore, revolved about a vertical axis within the tank. ln addition the spray heads Will be oscillatod about a horizontal axis. The nozzles through which the cleansingE fluid issues are. therefore. subjected to a compound movement the components oit which are ahorizontal revolution and a horizontal oscillatingi movement along' artes which are radii ot the circle ot revolution.

ln this Way both the bottom,Y top and sides ot the tank nay be thoroughly cleansed. lllhere elboiv nozzles are en'iployed such nozzles may be turned, indicated in Figure l, o'r towards the sides of the tank, as indicated in Figure 2v or they may be turned at any angle intermediate these positions.

, Where straight nozzles are used the tend Leer/,eee

eney will be to drive the stream toward the top and bottoni ot the tanks au d in this Way sediment may be cleansed :trom the tank bottoms, by usingl elbow but not straight nozzles. Straight nozzlcs are to clean sides only. The collar l5 is provided with boss 60 riveted to the barrel 9.

From the torexejoino' it will be appreciated that the mechanism is compact. 'faithful in operation.. easily accessible as to the interior of the drinn and other parts, comparatively easy to insert in and. remove troni a tank and economical in operation.

lt obvious that various changes and modifications may be made iu the details ot construction and design ot the above spcciti cally described embodiment ot this invention ivithout departing; troni the spirit thcrcoi', such chanojcs and modifications boina' rostricted only by thc scope ot tho YFollowingY claims.

iilhat is claimed ist-- '1, tank Washingmachine coniprisiugij :i rotaiw drum in communication vvith a lsource ot' clernsino tluid supply, :i barrel extending; into said drinn. anti-Friction means carried by the barrel ttor supporting;l the drum for rotation, spray heads carried laterally by the drum and adapted to rotate on axes substantially radial to tho drum. a lined fear ivhcel carried by .said barrel, revolving; ,e'ear wheels nicsoii'iff vvith the fixed gear Wheel and carried by said drum. and connections between said revolvingr rear wheels and the spray heads for oscillatingl the latter.

E2. tank washing; machine comj'irisinn' a rotary drum. a slotted barrel cxtcmliner thercinto` a poivcr shatt ciitcudiue through thc barrel. moans `tor stupplvingi` fluid to the barrel. means lior connectingv said power -shaitt to drive th.n drum. spray heads carricd by said rotary drum and entendimilaterally ot the drinn. a .fixed ,e'car ivliccl on said barrol. revolving; `rear wheels meshing: ivitli thc .fixed gear Wheel; and carri-.cd by said drum. and connections bctu'con said rcvoliiufiA girar Wheels and thc. spray heads Al'or oscillating' the same.

d.. tank 'washing` machine comprisingl a rotary drum. spry hcads carried by the drum and crendi latrrall'i.' oi" ibo drum. a slotted leu-rol citcudingr into thc /li'ui-i. means 'For supplying the barrel with cleans-- ino; duid under pressure. a powcr .shall cx tendine' through the barrel. :i spider 'tor connecting; said power shalt to (hc drum. jiinion sbrillo joirnolcd radiallj-f ii said spider. pinions ou said hand :i ixcd .orar Wheel cerricd hy said drum and uwshinff with said pinious crank armsl on said pinion shafts. and jointed links coupled between said crank arms and :said spray heads. lor oscillating; said heads.

STEPHEN F. BLUUlll.

lill 

